The news that the Colombo High Court has awarded the death sentence to five Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in November 2011 on charges of drug trafficking is a shock (“Death for five Indian fishermen,” Oct.31). The Indian government must take all steps it can to sort out the matter amicably, especially as India maintains that the fishermen are innocent.
S. Ramakrishnasayee,Ranipet
Tamil fishermen appear to be at the receiving end of acts by the Sri Lankan Navy. It is strange that the Indian Navy is unable to do anything to help our fishermen. If the fishermen in this case are innocent, then it is the responsibility of India to save their lives.
Elakkia S.,Coimbatore
The knee-jerk reactions of Tamil political leaders after the verdict was announced is nothing short of a disgraceful attempt to gain cheap political points. Can one assume that the convicted persons are innocent just because they are Tamils? Have not courts in Tamil Nadu convicted people belonging to the State on charges of drug trafficking? Instead of trying to take political advantage of the plight of the five men and making it an unwarranted issue in relations between two sovereign nations, the Tamil Nadu government and other political parties in the State would do well, as a goodwill gesture, to extend monetary, legal and all other possible assistance to the fishermen. While there is no denying that an innocent person should not be punished, it must be remembered that drug trafficking is a serious crime against humanity.
S.P. Asokan,Chennai